Pilgrims, who endured a wretched sail across the Atlantic, had no interest in leaving Plymouth to share a meal with Grandma back in England.

They stayed home for Thanksgiving.

How times have changed.

By plane, train and automobile -- and boat -- we will set off this week to pass the gravy and ask the blessing.

By car

But before a rundown on travel tips, take a look at the weather.

Make sure those windshield wipers work. Expect rain and more rain.

A front is expected to come in Tuesday night and early Wednesday, bringing rain to the Seattle area and rain or snow in the mountains. There will be a lull Wednesday night, then another front will come in Thanksgiving Day.

Precipitation should be heavy in the Cascades. Snow is most likely in the North Cascades, but easterly winds could keep pass temperatures below freezing. Snow levels will rise, then fall.

There is also an avalanche warning for the Cascades from King County southward through Wednesday morning. And already on Tuesday, road crews had to close Interstate 90 before dawn for avalanche control at Snoqualmie Pass.

And to check how that weather is affecting traffic on the mountain passes, go this site.

State Route 410 Chinook Pass is closed from Morse Creek (five miles east of the summit) to Crystal Mountain Boulevard (eight miles northwest of the summit). Access to the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort on eastbound remains open.

State Route 123 Cayuse Pass is closed within Mount Rainier National Park from the 4,675-foot Cayuse Pass summit to Stevens Canyon Road.

State Route 20 North Cascades Highway is closed from Milepost 134, east of Diablo, and on the east side at Milepost 171, which is 14 miles west of Mazama.

It will be busy at Sea-Tac, but the folks there want you to know, not that busy.

Traffic will be about the same as last Thanksgiving. The busiest days: Wednesday, a projected 88,767 passengers; Sunday, a projected 89,250 passengers; and Monday, a projected 85,050 passengers.

Busy, but Sea-Tac has an average of 100,000 passengers during the summer travel season.

If you're driving to the airport, Sea-Tac is offering a parking discount of as much as $10 a day. Go here to get the coupon.

Here are some tips on flying:

Confirm your travel details and make sure the name on your boarding pass is the same as the name on your ID.

Get your boarding pass early. You can get it online before you leave home or at a kiosk as soon as you get to the airport.

Check on your flight status before you leave home. You can go to a Sea-Tac site and find the status of flights.

Arrive at the airport two hours early to make sure you have enough time.

Remember you have to go through security. The Transportation Security Administration is reminding travelers that they should have their shoes and coats off and their laptops and IDs out as they enter security. Remember that you can't take liquids, gels and aerosols of more than 3 ounces as carry-ons. Put those liquids of 3 ounces or less in a 1 quart, clear, zippered plastic bag and have them ready to be inspected. Don't travel with wrapped packages; security may have to unwrap them. Don't travel with snow globes; they need to go in checked baggage. You can bring pies and cakes, but they might have to be inspected.

By train

Amtrak says its highest traffic days of the year are the Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving.

The rail service says you should show up at the station early -- 45 minutes if you have to pick up tickets. You might try suburban stations, where crowds are lighter than downtown stations.

And make sure you have an ID.

Passengers are limited to two carry-on bags, but laptops, purses and briefcases are excluded from that limit.